NEA HIN Launches the Jerald L. Newberry Fund for School Safety

The Fund Will Carry On Legacy of Retiring NEA HIN Executive Director

By Cindy Long

From the Sandy Hook shooting tragedy in New England to the massive tornado outbreak that flattened two schools in Oklahoma City, we’ve learned all too well that our public schools are vulnerable to disaster and violence. Educators need to be prepared for the unexpected, to respond swiftly to a crisis, and to help their school communities recover in the aftermath. With that in mind, NEA’s Health Information Network (NEA HIN) established the Jerald L. Newberry School Safety Fund to promote the health and safety of public education students and employees.

The fund is named for NEA HIN’s executive director who is retiring after 17 years at the helm of the of the school health organization. During Newberry’s term, he led the implementation of a comprehensive health education curriculum that included nutrition and disease prevention, and addressed controversial health education issues, such as providing unbiased, reliable information on preventing HIV/AIDS. He made sure NEA HIN met the evolving needs of teachers, support staff and the 43 million young people in their care, and he raised more than $30 million to ensure that NEA HIN had the resources to carry out its critical mission.

Upon his retirement, he and NEA HIN hope that his legacy will continue by supporting the Jerald L. Newberry School Safety Fund. The fund will provide online information to all NEA state affiliates on crisis preparedness, promote efforts to foster respectful school cultures, expand NEA HIN’s work with the Center for Green Schools, and create a Fund internship for a college student.

“I’ve been lucky to have a long rewarding career doing work that has had an impact on so many lives,” Newberry says. “I’ve met so many committed and generous people during my 17 years leading the NEA Health information Network, and I have especially been inspired by the extraordinary, caring members of the NEA. As I enter this new phase in my life, I’m grateful to know the Fund will keep NEA HIN on a strong footing. Stay happy, and stay healthy.”

Delegates to the 2013 Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly are encouraged to make donations by stopping by the NEA HIN booth in the Exhibit Hall. Donations can also be made online or by mailing a check payable to NEA HIN, Attention Jerald L. Newberry School Safety Fund to 1201 16th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036.

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